Worship Helps for Reformation
This painting stands where it was originally placed – above
the altar of the St. Peter and Paul Church in Weimar ,
Germany
Cranch allows the worshipers at St. Peter and Paul Church to
visualize their justification in Jesus. The doctrine of justification by faith
alone in Jesus Christ was at the heart of the Lutheran Reformation.
“This article about justification by faith (as the Apology
says) is the chief article [see Apology IV 2-3] in all Christian doctrine.
Without this teaching no poor conscience can have any firm consolation or truly
know the riches of Christ’s grace. Dr. Luther also has written about this:
If this one teaching stands in its purity, then Christendom
will also remain pure and good, undivided and unseparated; for this alone, and
nothing else, makes and maintains Christendom. … Where this falls, it is
impossible to ward off any error or sectarian spirit [Formula of Concord, Solid
Declaration, Article III, par. 6].
Unfortunately, the clear doctrine of justification had
become clouded over by indulgences, penance and purgatory in the Roman Catholic
Church. It had fallen and therefore there were a plethora of errors and
deceiving spirits. God used Reformers like Martin Luther and artists like the
Cranachs to bring the doctrine of justification in Jesus out into the light. God
used His truth to once again set His people free (John 8:32 ).
There is a great deal of Christian symbolism and significance
in Cranach’s painting. Each image alludes to salvation alone in Jesus. In the
center background, to the right of Jesus’ feet, Moses is teaching God’s Law
contained in Ten Commandments to the people of the Old Testament. To their
left, Death – represented by a skeleton holding a spear – and Satan – pictured
as a beast wielding a club – are chasing a man into the fires of hell. Together
these images express the hopelessness of mankind living under the Law’s
condemnation. “Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by
carrying them out” (Deuteronomy 27:26).
“Here we must confess, as Paul says in Romans 5:12, that sin
originated from one man, Adam. By his disobedience, all people were made
sinners and became subject to death and the devil” [Smalcald Articles, Article
1, par. 1].
It is terrifying being chased by Death and Satan into the
pit of hell. However, there is still Good News for all those who look to God’s
Son for salvation. When the people of Israel
were wandering in the wilderness, they sinned so God caused them to be bitten
by snakes. Yet, God in His abounding grace, also allowed them to be spared by
looking at the bronze snake mounted on a pole (Numbers 21:4-9). This is
illustrated in the background in the right of the painting. Just as the snake
was lifted up on a pole, so the Son of Man was lifted up on the pole of the
cross (John 3:14 ).
Above and to the left of the snake scene, is an angel
proclaiming the Gospel to a group of shepherds. The angel is holding the words,
“Glory to God in the highest,” which was the Christmas Gospel announced to the
shepherds outside the little town of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth
(Luke 2:14).
Dominating the painting is Jesus Christ on the cross. Everything
else in the painting is illustrating the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus. The
painting illustrates the importance of Christ alone. The Reformers stressed the
importance of Christ alone. The Scriptures proclaimed the importance of Christ
alone.
The first and chief article is this: Jesus Christ, our God
and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24 -25). He alone is the Lamb of God who
takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29 ),
and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6). All have
sinned and are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His
grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Romans 3:23 -25). …
Upon this article everything that we teach and practice
depends, in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore,
we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise, all is lost, and the
pope, the devil, and all adversaries win the victory and the right over us”
[Smalcald Articles, Article I, par. 1-3, 5].
In the painting, Jesus’ side is pierced and blood is flowing
onto the head of one of the men to His left. The blood represents Christ’s
sacrifice and demonstrates how believers are washed with the blood of Jesus
(Revelation 7:14 ).
John the Baptist is pointing up at Jesus, while at the same
time pointing at the lamb at his feet. John is declaring to the world, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
world” (John 1:29 ).
John is sharing the meaning of Jesus’ death to Lucas Cranach,
the artist, who is on John’s left. Cranach represents all who believe in Jesus.
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe” (Romans 3:22 ). Cranach is
being washed by the blood of Jesus. It is reminiscent of the hymn verse, “Let
the water and the blood From thy riven side which flowed; Be of sin the double
cure: Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r” (Rock of Ages, Augustus M. Toplady).
At Cranach’s left is Martin Luther. He has an open Bible in
his hand. Luther’s hands and feet are positioned like Moses. However, where
Moses was pointing to the Law, Luther is pointing to the Gospel. His Bible is
open to John 3:14, where Jesus speaks of how He is the fulfillment of the snake
on the pole.
Luther is pointing to another Bible verse that reads, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need” (Hebrews 4:16 ). John, Cranach, Luther, and all those who believe are able to approach
the holy throne of our heavenly Father because of the vicarious and victorious
work of Jesus Christ. Having paid for sin, He has defeated death and the
devil and now lives to intercede for us.
Jesus is shown doing just that on the left of the painting. He
has risen from the dead from the open tomb behind Him. He is pictured standing
with His right foot on Death and His left foot on the devil. He is pushing the
staff of His victory flag into the monster’s throat. Jesus has conquered
mankind’s greatest adversaries! The same adversaries who were chasing man into
hell have now been defeated once and for all by Christ’s sacrificial death and
glorious resurrection. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ).
Article 4 of the Augsburg Confession expresses the heart of
Lutheran teaching this way:
“Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before
God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for
Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into
favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ
made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His
sight (Romans 3 and 4) [Augsburg Confession, Article IV, par. 1-3].
This is a wonderful summary of the message of the Lutheran Reformation
and of its foremost artists, Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Younger. We are
justified in Jesus.
Worship Theme: We are said to be
intolerant for calling homosexuality a sin. We are called old-fashioned for
saying that premarital sex is wrong. We are labeled as foolish and ignorant for
preaching that the world was created in six normal days. What do we expect? God
warns us in his Word that we will suffer and be despised for standing firm in
the truth of his Word. Just as Martin Luther, let us also stand firm in the
truth of God’s Word no matter what the cost! In it alone are found the words of
eternal life.
Old Testament: Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23
Now when Daniel learned
that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the
windows opened toward Jerusalem . Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his
God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group
and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to
the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a
decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man
except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king
answered, "The decree stands-- in accordance with the laws of the Medes
and Persians, which cannot be repealed." 16 So the king gave
the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king
said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue
you!" 17 A stone
was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with
his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's
situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his
palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being
brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of
dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came
near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant
of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to
rescue you from the lions?" 21 Daniel answered, "O king,
live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of
the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.
Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." 23 The king
was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel
was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in
his God.
1. How did Daniel react to the king’s edict?
2. In Romans 13,
God commands us to obey the government, yet God blessed Daniel for disobeying
the king’s edict. How do we explain that?
Epistle: 2 Peter 1:19-21
And
we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay
attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and
the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must
understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own
interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
3. Peter calls the Scriptures “light shining in a dark
place.” What does that light do? (verse 19)
4. How do verses 20 and 21 speak against those who contend
that human writers merely spoke about God but were not messengers from God?
Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23
I am sending you out
like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as
doves. 17 "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you
over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On
my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them
and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about
what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you. 21 "Brother will betray brother to death,
and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them
put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who
stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in
one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going
through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
5. What does it mean to be “as shrewd as snakes and as
innocent as doves”?
6. Evaluate. We are not persecuted any more as
Christians.
Answers:
1. The king had issued a decree that his subjects were to
pray to no one else but him during the duration of thirty days. Daniel
disobeyed that decree and continued to pray to God three times a day, as was
his custom.
They didn’t persecute Daniel because of theses nailed to a
church door; they didn’t accuse him because of stirring words spoken over a
pile of condemned books. They persecuted Daniel because he prayed in his home.
Daniel made a bold confession and faithful witness with his knees. No godless
king or immutable law would change the homage due to God. No threats, no pain,
not even death would change Daniel’s loyalty to the Word of God that called on
him to worship the LORD his God only. So Daniel went home and prayed, just as
he had done before. He was faithful, even in the face of certain persecution.
For the Christian, most persecution doesn’t come from public writings like
Luther, but from private acts like Daniel. We live our faith and are persecuted
because of it. We don’t face a den of lions, but persecution abounds when we’re
faithful to the Word. We lose relationships because of moral purity; we lose
promotions because of worship priorities; we lose friendships because we won’t
join in sinful talking or walking. Faithfulness to God’s Word in the face of
persecution requires trust. God shut the lions’ mouths to answer the king’s
question: Is your God able to rescue you? Yes, he is. God shut the lions’
mouths to show his Church of all the ages that God is able to guard and keep
his own. You can trust him and be faithful to his Word in the face of any
persecution.
2. All earthly authority has been established by God. He
commands us to obey earthly governments as his representatives. The only
exception is what Peter tells us in Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than
men!” We are to obey the government in all things except those things that go
contrary to the will of God. Daniel pleased God by obeying him rather than the
king.
3. It guides us through the darkness of life, and it
illumines our hearts by enabling us to understand God’s forgiving love.
4. Both the impulse to write and the message they wrote
were given by God.
Peter makes it very clear that no portion of divine
Scripture is from private interpretation or a man’s own opinion or a revelation
from his own mind. This is the difference between the false prophets of the
world and the true prophets of the Lord. The inspired, inerrant, divine
Scriptures of God set us apart as Lutherans from all other church bodies, as
well.
5. Jesus in this section warns us that we will be
persecuted for his name. As we go out into this world it is important that we
understand that. We should be shrewd in the way we deal with this sinful world,
yet we should never become a part of it. We should remain as pure as beautiful
white doves.
6. Although active persecution of Christians does exist
still today in some parts of the world, here in the U.S.
we are not actively persecuted or thrown in jail. The persecution we suffer is
much more subtle. We are made to feel intolerant and foolish for following the
teachings of the Bible. Let us always stand firm in the freedom we have been
given with the confidence that we too will receive our eternal reward.
Throughout the history of the Church, the story of
faithfulness to the Word of God has always been the story of persecution. And
rightly so, because Jesus promised it! Who would send defenseless sheep into a
world of ravenous wolves? It makes no sense, yet that is precisely the plan
that Jesus describes for his Church. It makes no sense—unless you are the Good
Shepherd who wants his sheep to utterly depend on him. Our trust in Jesus
doesn’t guarantee an absence of persecution, but faithfulness in spite of it. We
will witness to the Word of God before brothers, fathers, children, governors
and princes. Jesus promised, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who
stands firm to the end will be saved.” What comfort that must have been for
Martin Luther, whose faithful witness caused him to be expelled from his order,
excommunicated from his church, and outlawed from his empire. Before the kings
and princes of Europe , Luther gave faithful witness at Worms :
“Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
Note: The
effect of the Lutheran Reformation of the Church on the history of the world
can hardly be overstated. In fact, when US News and World Report ranked the
most important events of the last 1000 years, the Lutheran Reformation placed
second, right behind Gutenberg’s moveable type printing press. Historians
consider the Lutheran Reformation to be of greater significance than the
discovery of the New World (number 3).Luther was a monk, a priest, a professor
at a little university in Wittenberg, Germany, but he is considered the third
most influential person of the last 1000 years (1000 Years and 1000 People,
Gottlieb and Bowers). God used his witness and simple faithfulness to the Word
to change the world. As heirs of the Reformation, may our witness be as
faithful and the effects of our witness be as profound!
Putting your faith
into action
The divine and the human nature have this personal union
with each other in the person of Christ and have the communion resulting from
it. Therefore, this man only, can say
with truth, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among
them”. Also, “And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age”.
We do not understand these testimonies to mean that only
Christ’s divinity is present with us in the Christian Church, and that such
presence does not apply to Christ according to His humanity. According to His received human nature, He
can be present where He wants to be. He
is present especially in His Church on earth as Mediator, Head, King, and High
Priest. This presence is not a part, or
only one half of Him. Christ’s entire
person is present, to which both natures belong, the divine and the human. He has instituted His Holy Supper for the
certain assurance and confirmation of this, so that He will be with us, and
dwell, work, and be effective in us also according to that nature from which He
has flesh and blood.
Christ promised that He—the man who has spoken with them,
who has experienced all tribulations in His received human nature, and who can
have sympathy with us, as His brethren—He will be with us in all our troubles
according to the nature by which He is our brother. – Formula of Concord ,
Solid Declaration, Article VIII, The Person of Christ (paragraphs 76, 78-79, 87)
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